EU261 Flight Compensation

Check the flat-rate payment you could claim when an EU or UK carrier arrives late. Provide the great-circle distance of the disrupted itinerary and the total hours delayed on arrival; the calculator applies the official EU261/UK261 brackets to reveal the headline compensation amount.

Distance of the disrupted journey in kilometres (use great-circle or booking distance).
Total arrival delay in hours when you reached your final destination.

Examples

  • 1,200 km intra-EU flight delayed 3.4 hours ⇒ €250 compensation
  • 4,500 km long-haul flight delayed 3.2 hours ⇒ €300 compensation

FAQ

Does EU261 cover cancellations?

Yes. Cancellations that are not due to extraordinary circumstances may trigger the same compensation bands, in addition to rerouting or refunds.

What if the airline cites extraordinary circumstances?

Events like severe weather, political instability, or air traffic control strikes can exempt carriers from paying compensation even when a delay occurs.

Do UK rules match EU amounts?

UK261 mirrors EU compensation levels but pays them in pounds sterling; convert the euro figure for an approximate GBP value.

How are connecting flights handled?

Use the total distance of the ticketed journey and the arrival delay at the final destination—the compensation is calculated on the through itinerary, not leg by leg.

Additional Information

  • Eligibility requires the flight to depart from the EU/UK or be operated by an EU/UK carrier, and the delay must be the airline's responsibility.
  • Airlines can reduce the €600 long-haul amount to €300 when delays between 3 and 4 hours still arrive within the partial-compensation window.
  • Cross-link: pair with the Flight Carbon Footprint calculator to offset emissions and the Baggage Overweight Fee tool to prepare for other travel costs while filing a claim.

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